Get Your Crochet On! Hip Hats & Cool Caps [Paperback]

There are times when I pick up a book or magazine and the description "fun and funky" comes up, in a way which is, quite frankly, more a warning that the items being showcased are likely to be uncomfortable, difficult to wear, and flattering only to 15-year old Brazilian models who have been worked on by a team of makeup artists and carefully lit by a professional photographer. For example, a fun fur dress in a recent magazine - just looking at it made me feel itchy and overheated, and it made the sleek, slender model wearing it look chunky. There are times when I pick up a publication and find myself wondering if I am looking at randomly selected projects with only the vaguest of themes (perhaps, "using specialty yarns you can't find locally"). Get Your Crochet On is not one of those books. This is a strong, cohesive collection of genuinely fun and funky patterns by Afya Ibomu, who sells her handmade creations through shops and boutiques and well as styling such luminaries as Erykah Badu, Common, and M1 (who also appear as models in the book). All the patterns are designed by Afya and are based on the hats she makes, sells, and wears. The photos in the book are people on the street type shots, and I really get the feeling that the people modeling the hats are people who would be wearing them even if a camera was not pointed in their direction. The styles shown in the book are very much what you would expect to see walking down the street in certain Brooklyn neighborhoods, if that helps. The tone of the book is warm and friendly.

One comment I've heard on the patterns was "I think I'm the wrong flavor for that" but I'm of the opinion that a closer look and a little time spent on thinking about color and yarn possibilities would open up the possibilities. The granny square cap, for example, done in a solid cream, would be worn by a certain teenager I know who likes to shop at AE, and the soldier style cap would probably have a $50 price tag dangling from it at B*b*. It's easy to choose your own favorite yarns to use with the patterns, which will call for a certain weight of yarn and three colors, without specifying brand or color (she does, in a section in the back of the book, provide information about the yarns she prefers - the easy care, easy to find, inexpensive craft shop standbys like Red Heart, Lion Brand, and Sugar `n Cream). Pattern introductions often include suggestions on how you can make choices to make the pattern your own (how to make the fedora pattern more appealing to the girly-girls, for example), and your own creativity is encouraged. The patterns include a quick, simple bun cover, a standard baseball cap, and styles for those who wear their hair in dreadlocks (like a colorful net tam). The head wrap also has photos showing you how to put it on, and it made me miss having long hair, if only for a minute.

The book includes well-illustrated instructions on the basics of the patterns used (stitches and assembly) and an explanation about gauge. The patterns have written instructions, photos, and some patterns include photos of some of the steps used (like attaching a bill). Instructions on how to add details like earflaps and pom-pons are included. There are no schematics and no symbolcraft is used.

The Kinky Reggae hat pattern is available for free through [...], and if you would like to buy a finished hat, you can do so through [...], which is also a nice way to check out the sorts of hats you can expect to find in the book. The "search inside" feature for this book lets you check out the "getting started" section, covering yarn, hooks, and the basics of crochet.

Little things: hey, Taunton Press, craft books are easier to use if you can lay them out flat! Also, some of the photos weren't very sharp and I think may have been tinkered with, which doesn't really make them sharper, but a little harder to look at.

Overall, an enjoyable book with a friendly, encouraging tone and great patterns. Wrapped up with a couple of skeins of yarn and a hook or two (or the always popular gift card to a yarn shop option), this would make a lovely gift.

Love the ideas and options throughout, such as simple things like adding a bill. However, I have found that objects I have crocheted do not turn out to be the dimensions visually represented. I have checked, double-checked, and triple-checked my guage. I am an intermediate skilled knitter and crocheter, so I greatly understand the dynamics of guage. Yet, everything I have made, especially the stunning Queen head-wrap, has turned out smaller -- dramatically smaller -- than portrayed. Schematics are not provided and perhaps could greatly remedy this problem. I have made my own adjustments to get the proportions needed; but what a chore to have to make everything twice. The styles are great, and hopefully the author will republish with schematics; otherwise be forewarned.

Easy, fast (less than a day), tons o' color possibilities, classic styles, bee-yoo-ti-ful models - YEAh!

Clear instructions - reasonable price. I made every one, and people love them.

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